A relaxed Atlantic port, Essaouira was once a trading hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas. Today its white-and-blue medina, UNESCO-listed ramparts and blue fishing boats make it a calm, breezy counterpoint to Marrakech and the desert.
The town is known for its art galleries, fresh grilled fish, Gnawa music and a long sandy beach where the steady wind draws windsurfers and kitesurfers. It is an easy day trip or short stay from Marrakech, about three hours by road.
